Health
Alzheimer’s and other dementia diagnoses can vary by zip code, new study finds
Your home address could determine the likelihood of getting a dementia diagnosis, a new study suggests.
Researchers from University of Michigan Medical School analyzed Medicare claims for nearly five million older adults in regional health care markets across the country — focusing on the areas that had higher rates of diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
They found that in areas with a higher rate of diagnosis — known as “diagnosis intensity” — residents were twice as likely to find out they had the condition, especially among those ages 66 to 74, along with Black and Hispanic subgroups.
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“The number of people who obtain a formal diagnosis is different across regions,” lead study author Dr. Julie Bynum, a researcher and professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at University of Michigan Medical School, told Fox News Digital.
“Those differences are related to how many people actually have dementia, which is driven by risk factors like age, race and cardiovascular risks — but we cannot explain all the differences in the percentage of people who get diagnosed on these population characteristics.”
Where you live could determine the likelihood of getting a dementia diagnosis, a study by researchers from University of Michigan Medical School found. (iStock)
Certain health system factors may come into play, Bynum said – such as the accessibility of health care and the availability of clinicians who have experience in diagnosing and caring for people with dementia.
Some of the health care markets with the highest dementia diagnosis rates include Texas (McAllen, Wichita Falls, Harlingen); Miami, Florida; Lake Charles, Louisiana; Alabama (Tuscaloosa and Montgomery); Michigan (Detroit, Dearborn, Royal Oak); Oxford, Mississippi; and New York (Bronx, Manhattan).
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Bynum wasn’t entirely surprised by the findings, she said.
She expected to find differences in the rate of formal diagnosis, she said, based on how practices and individual doctors typically respond to patients with cognitive concerns.
The accessibility of health care and the availability of clinicians who have experience with diagnosing and caring for people with dementia could impact the diagnosis rates, the new study found. (iStock)
“What was less expected is that the location of high and low diagnosis intensity areas does not follow a pattern of where there is a higher burden of disease in the population,” she said.
“I had expected that in places where dementia was a bigger problem, we might see a greater effort to get those people into care.”
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Lycia Neumann, PhD, senior director of health services research at the Alzheimer’s Association, was not involved in the study but commented on how it highlights regional disparities in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
“This suggests that unless there is intentional effort from health systems, payers and governments to promote equitable access to diagnosis, these disparity gaps will continue growing,” she told Fox News Digital.
Overcoming barriers to diagnosis
Based on the findings, people who are concerned about cognitive decline among their family members may need to “put in some extra effort” in communicating their concerns with their primary doctors, Bynum said.
“One of the problems is that the concern can get lost among all the other things older adults and their doctors address, and sorting out cognitive complaints is challenging for doctors,” she told Fox News Digital.
People who are concerned about cognitive decline in regard to their family members may need to “put in some extra effort” in communicating their concerns with their primary doctors, a researcher said. (iStock)
“In addition, we should all be encouraging our local health systems to develop the capacity to address the needs of this burgeoning population through clinical and supportive programming.”
Neumann said younger individuals and those from “historically underrepresented ethnic and racialized groups” have a greater risk of being underdiagnosed.
“We know that barriers to an early and precise dementia diagnosis exist at all levels,” she said.
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“They go from stigma and lack of awareness of signs and symptoms to barriers to health care access related to health insurance coverage, distance to clinical settings, and lack of transportation and companionship.”
It is Neumann’s hope, she said, that studies like this one spark efforts to raise awareness of early warning signs and encourage individuals to discuss any concerns with their health care providers.
“Barriers to an early and precise dementia diagnosis exist at all levels.”
Educational programs and interventions can also facilitate access to timely dementia diagnoses, she added.
“After all, an accurate diagnosis is the first step to appropriate treatment and care.”
Potential limitations
One of the study’s limitations is that the researchers were not able to determine whether the rate of diagnosis is “too high or too low” based only on their data, Bynum noted.
“We can only say that it is higher or lower than the national average rate,” she said.
“We would need to know the actual number of people living with dementia in each community, which would be incredibly costly to measure.”
This approach, however, can help researchers understand whether getting a formal diagnosis is more or less difficult across geographical areas, according to Bynum.
“We should all be encouraging our local health systems to develop the capacity to address the needs of this burgeoning population through clinical and supportive programming,” a dementia expert said. (iStock)
“There are always limitations regarding studies based on claims data,” Neumann noted.
“Claims data are only about individuals who received care, in this case a diagnosis — so it excludes people who might be living with the disease but haven’t been able to access the health care system or haven’t received an accurate diagnosis.”
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Additionally, the information collected in medical claims is for payment and reimbursement purposes, not for research — so it doesn’t allow for the understanding of the factors that might be driving the disparities, she added.
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The study population is also only composed of older adults enrolled in Medicare fee-for-service, or traditional Medicare, Neumann noted.
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Small fragments of plastic were found in the tumors of most prostate cancer patients, according to a new study from NYU Langone Health.
In past studies, microplastics have been found in almost every human organ and in bodily fluids, but their impact on human health still isn’t fully understood.
The researchers analyzed tissue samples from 10 patients with prostate cancer who underwent surgery to remove the entire organ.
Using visuals of both benign samples and tumor samples, as well as specialized equipment, the scientists identified plastic particles in 90% of the tumor samples and 70% of benign tissue samples, according to the study press release.
In past studies, microplastics were found in almost every single human organ along with bodily fluids, even the placenta. (iStock)
The cancerous tissue contained on average more than double the amount of plastic as healthy prostate tissue samples, the study found. This equates to about 40 micrograms of plastic per gram of tissue compared to 16 micrograms.
Researchers avoided contaminating the samples with other plastics by substituting standard tools with those made of aluminum, cotton and other non-plastic material, the release noted.
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The scientists say this is the first direct evidence linking microplastics to prostate cancer.
“By uncovering yet another potential health concern posed by plastic, our findings highlight the need for stricter regulatory measures to limit the public’s exposure to these substances, which are everywhere in the environment,” said senior study author Vittorio Albergamo, assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, in the release.
Using visuals of both benign samples and tumor samples, as well as specialized equipment, the scientists identified plastic particles in 90% of the tumor samples and 70% of benign tissue samples. (iStock)
The study findings were presented during the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in San Francisco on Feb. 26.
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“What is most striking is not that microplastics were detected, but that they were found embedded within tumor tissue itself,” Dr. David Sidransky, oncologist and medical advisor at SpotitEarly, a startup that offers an at-home breath-based test to detect early-stage cancer, told Fox News Digital.
“While complete avoidance is unrealistic, people can take practical steps to reduce exposure.”
“We already know microplastics are present in water, air, blood and even placental tissue. Their detection in prostate tumors suggests systemic distribution and long-term bioaccumulation,” added Maryland-based Sidransky, who was not involved in the study.
Study limitations
Albergamo cautioned that a larger sample is needed to confirm the findings. Additionally, Sidransky noted that the presence of microplastics alone does not prove they cause cancer.
“Tumors can act as ‘biologic sinks,’ meaning they may accumulate circulating particles simply because of altered vasculature and permeability,” he said.
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A key unanswered question, according to the doctor, is whether microplastics are biologically active in ways that “promote DNA damage, immune modulation or chronic inflammation within the prostate.”
About one in eight men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The most actionable step men can take is appropriate screening and early detection, according to doctors. (iStock)
For those concerned about microplastics, Sidransky offered some insights.
“I believe the appropriate response is curiosity, not panic, and a commitment to understand more,” he said.
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“While complete avoidance is unrealistic, people can take practical steps to reduce exposure, such as minimizing heating food in plastic containers, reducing bottled water consumption when possible, and favoring glass or stainless steel alternatives.”
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The most actionable step men can take, however, is getting appropriate screenings to help ensure early detection, according to the doctor. Screening discussions should be individualized based on age, family history and other risk factors.
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There has been a shake-up in the Make America Healthy Again movement regarding glyphosate, a widely used herbicide that has been the subject of significant controversy.
The debate follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that ensures an adequate supply of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides related to national defense.
MAHA supporters have previously pushed a pesticide-free agenda, warning of potential health harms caused by glyphosate.
Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, said he believes there is sufficient evidence linking glyphosate to neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis, to warrant limiting exposure.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order that ensures an adequate supply of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides related to national defense. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
“With Parkinson’s, this association appears to be due to the gut, vagus nerve and brain axis, where the exposure affects the microbiome in the gut, which then ascends slowly up to the brain, causing the neurodegenerative disease years later,” Siegel told Fox News Digital.
“There is also a growing association being found between high-dose glyphosate or occupational exposure and metabolic disorders, liver disease and some cancers, specifically lymphoma.”
He added, “Growing research backs this. I favor limiting it.”
“When we apply them across millions of acres and allow them into our food system, we put Americans at risk.”
Studies have shown that glyphosate, which is used in products such as Roundup, owned by Monsanto, could raise cancer risk.
In one University of Washington study published in the journal Mutation Research, researchers found that exposure to it increased the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma by 41%.
The nonprofit Investigate Midwest, which analyzed data from both the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Cancer Institute, also recently found that pesticides may contribute to cancer rates.
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Among the top 500 counties for per-square-mile pesticide use, more than 60% had cancer rates above the national average of 460 cases per 100,000 people, according to the report.
Investigate Midwest, which is based in Illinois, interviewed more than 100 farmers, environmentalists, lawmakers and scientists as part of a partnership with the Pulitzer Center’s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship.
Among the top 500 counties for per-square-mile pesticide use, more than 60% had cancer rates above the national average of 460 cases per 100,000 people, according to one study. (iStock)
Iowa, which used 53 million pounds of pesticides last year, holds the nation’s title for second-highest cancer rate.
Bill Billings, a resident of Red Oak, Iowa, was diagnosed with cancer in 2014.
“The cancer specialist said, very directly, (my) cancer is a result of being exposed to chemicals,” Billings said in the report.
Kelly Ryerson, founder of Glyphosate Facts and owner of the Instagram account @glyphosategirl, told Fox News Digital her journey researching the herbicide began with her own health struggles.
Ryerson, who is based in California, previously struggled with chronic illness and autoimmune issues, which she said improved when she stopped eating gluten.
Iowa, which used 53 million pounds of pesticides last year, holds the nation’s title for second-highest cancer rate. (iStock)
After attending a medical conference at Columbia University’s Celiac Disease Center, Ryerson began to question modern farming practices rather than the gluten itself.
“A lot of times, farmers are spraying Roundup on our grains right before harvest to facilitate an easier harvest,” she said. “After that easier harvest, because everything’s dry at the same time, those crops go directly to the mill and may end up in our food supply, at alarmingly high levels.”
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In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization framework, classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans.”
The classification was based on limited evidence of cancer in humans (notably non-Hodgkin lymphoma in some studies) and sufficient evidence in experimental animals.
“President Trump’s executive order reinforces the critical need for U.S. farmers to have access to essential, domestically produced crop protection tools, such as glyphosate,” a Monsanto spokesperson said. (Wolf von Dewitz/picture alliance via Getty Images)
A spokesperson for Monsanto told Fox News Digital it will comply with Trump’s order to produce glyphosate and elemental phosphorus.
“President Trump’s executive order reinforces the critical need for U.S. farmers to have access to essential, domestically produced crop protection tools, such as glyphosate,” the spokesperson said.
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HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long been a vocal critic of Roundup, working with his legal team in 2018 to award $289 million to a man who alleged the weed killer caused his non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to reports.
Following backlash to Trump’s executive order, Kennedy said he supports the order but acknowledged that “pesticides and herbicides are toxic by design, engineered to kill living organisms.”
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“When we apply them across millions of acres and allow them into our food system, we put Americans at risk,” he posted on X. “Chemical manufacturers have paid tens of billions of dollars to settle cancer claims linked to their products, and many agricultural communities report elevated cancer rates and chronic disease.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.
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